I heard this late last night and spent the whole night trying to will it to be not so. RIP, proudly my friend. You've raised the bar in the climbing world, in the community and in our hearts. I miss you so much. Mal

I didn't know Craig, but I had the pleasure of meeting him in Ouray many years ago. He was pull testing ice screw placements. His findings changed the conventional wisdom on placing screws, and I think (hope!) I am safer for his efforts. Thanks again Craig.

i cannot believe what i just read...another great has passed- i actually had the honor of being one of Craig's students last year in an AMGA course- i relished every minute of it and being mock guided up Ruper on Big Bros is one of my better climbing memories.

Earlier this summer I started talking with a fellow at the base of a popluar Seneca route. He was with folks from the Gendarme, so at first I assumed he was a client. We started chatting and I realized he was the instructor. We proceeded to have a very pleasant conversation and he offered some suggestions relevant to an upcoming trip out west we were planning. As we were heading out we commented on what an incredibly friendly and easy going guy he was. Later that evening I found out he was THAT Craig Luebben and had in fact authored some of the books on my climbing bookshelf!

Godspeed Sir - you made an impression in our relatively insignificant intersection. That speaks volumes to what kind of person you must have been...

Our deepest condolences to family and friends.

PS for those that don't recognize the name, amongst other notable achievments, he invented Big Bro's...

Benegas is a hero for willingly taking a massive risk to enter into the same conditions that just killed Craig. The guy has stones to do that. I mean not to over-shadow the loss but props to Benegas for doing the right thing at great risk/peril to his own life.

I am stunned. Craig was the safest partner I ever climbed with. His contributions to the climbing community in and around Fort Collins were immense. He taught so many people how to climb rock and ice, and always had enthusiasm for every aspect of the sport.

At any hour of the day you could see him in the Lorry Student Center basement at CSU organizing gear for the next outing while juggling a hardware company (Big Bros), new routing around Grey Rock or RMNP ice, authoring climbing magazine articles and guidebooks, and finishing grad school. He was a man of action and dedication. Craig gave much more back to climbing than he ever took. He was also a super solid boulderer, and had most of the Horsetooth Gill and Holloway problems dialed.

My condolences to Craig's family and fiends. He was appreciated and admired by too many too count. RIP.